The pilot Business Improvement District (BID) programme was launched in September 2017 to encourage stakeholders to take greater ownership in enlivening their precincts, by adopting a formalised place management framework through legislation. By 2018, nine new precincts had expressed their interest to become pilot BIDs, representing a good mix of precincts of different characteristics, from historic and civic districts to mixed-use precincts within and outside the city centre.
In 2019, the Tanjong Pagar pilot Business Improvement District (BID) was formed, the first out of the nine new precincts participating in the pilot BID programme to take off. Known as Discover Tanjong Pagar, the group has been working closely with government agencies to create an attractive destination and connect people and businesses.
That same year, URA and HDB’s public spaces programmes were consolidated into the Lively Places Programme, a one-stop application portal for anyone with good ideas to enliven public spaces across Singapore.